Al Jolson Home Page|The Man|Jolson's Legacy|Memorials to Jolson|Liverpool Memorial
Along with preserving the memory of Al Jolson, the International Al Jolson Society is and has been actively involved with the placing of memorials to the World's Greatest Entertainer. At the International Jolson Festival, in May, 1998, in Liverpool, England, this plaque was placed as a remembrance of Al Jolson's departure from Europe, so many years before.
Jolson Memorial Placed at the
Liverpool IAJS Convention, May, 1998

Text of the Memorial Plaque to right


AL JOLSON, born Asa Yoelson in Lithuania, Russia, emigrated to New York from Liverpool on board SS Umbria as an eight year old in 1894, with his mother, brother and two sisters. His father had made the journey four years earlier and had set up home in Washington D.C. as a Jewish cantor.

Al left home as a thirteen year old and fled to New York where he sang in burlesque houses before joining various minstrel shows, touring nationwide.

As a solo artist he was accorded the title "The World's Greatest Entertainer" during a continuous run of Broadway shows from 1911 to 1925, culminating in him being the star of the first cinema talkie "The Jazz Singer," in 1927.

Continued success during the 1930s and 1940s resulted in two films of his life being made - "The Al Jolson Story" and "Jolson Sings Again" - before his death in 1950.

Al Jolson was probably one of the most successful of the many emigrants to sail from Liverpool to the New World.

This panel has been produced with the support of the International Al Jolson Society

The placement of this plaque, along with news of the convention, itself, was reported in the local press in this article.

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This listing and material Copyright © 2003 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 21 Dec 03